PROPOSED MISSION ACTION PLAN

Given the challenges we are facing, the aim is to agree a direction on the essentials, and shorten our PCC meetings, making them more focused.

  • These are things we've agreed to that don't require action
  • These tasks are things we've agreed that require action but are not an immediate priority
  • These tasks are priorities that require action
  • These are decisions to make
  • These are actions we've decided not to do - possibly with date for review
  • These actions are completed

GROWING

Welcoming, including & encouraging all ethnic, cultural & other diversities to participate in the life of the church—as a blessing!

  • posters to advertise services in Farsi and English
  • increasing Sunday morning focus and organisation (Deputy Wardens with clear roles) (multi-season frontal for high altar) (would Romanian church use church instead of vestry, at vestry cost, but leave chairs out.
  • grant for wall-mounted to TVs to remove need to move them around and connect them
  • tidy up Eucharistic Assistants: some no longer attending; recruit two more?
  • do we offer more services of Holy Communion?
  • offer a Bring & Share meal every 4 (or 6) weeks?
  • consolidate our Sunday morning worship (i.e. no more changes, except possibly introduction of servers)
  • do we add an extra reflective hymn at the beginning of the service: a gathering song?

Nurturing Farsi/Dari speaking congregation members

  • continue Thursday morning Farsi discussion group (Zahra)
  • continue Farsi Eucharist / Morning Prayer on 2nd & 4th Sundays
  • continue to offer English Classes

Offering and developing All-Age Services

  • Continue to offer Youth Service on 4th Sunday, asking the young people for more input.
  • Do we introduce altar servers?

NURTURING

nurturing Farsi/Dari speaking congregation members

  • continue Thursday morning Farsi discussion group (Zahra)
  • continue to add Farsi words to Psalms and Liturgy (Nick, Zahra)
  • continue Farsi Eucharist / Morning Prayer on 2nd & 4th Sundays (Zahra)

building up the Sunday School / Children’s Work and leaders

  • restart Sunday School, and recruit a volunteer to run it once a month with an assistant
  • offer training for volunteers with Children & Young People in Oct/Nov 2025

supporting young people as they move to, and at, Secondary School

  • start group for Y9+ with Laura Tebay, and recruit a volunteer to run it once a month with an assistant
  • offer training for volunteers with Children & Young People in Oct/Nov 2025
  • what about Y7 and Y8?

supporting people into other roles / ministries in the church

  • recruit more people to read and lead intercessions
  • support Deputy Wardens in their roles
  • recruit leaders for work with youth and children

servers’ training

  • introduce this, robes? girdles?

seasonal / weekly discipleship Bible study groups and services

  • continue to offer Stations of the Cross in Lent

visiting Care Homes

  • continue to visit Coppice Care Home

end of life care for the dying and the bereaved

SERVING

hosting activities for all members of the community (run by ourselves or others)

  • continue to work to increase use of the church building
  • purchase chair dolly to reduce risks of stacking

improving our buildings better to serve the community

  • install bollards instead of gates at church gates (due to cost) if we can get a faculty?
  • white lines at entrances to prevent cars blocking access?
  • apply for grant and commission a modest amount of repointing work

moving forward with eco church

  • complete the new Eco Survey
  • establish next steps
  • See if we can reduce electricity usage

education, visits to church, collective worship & school governance

  • continue St. Thomas' School Thursday morning Collective Worship
  • continue hosting visits from schools, nurseries, etc

SUSTAINABILITY

integrate teaching on giving into Sermons etc

increasing Venue Hire / Income

  • apply for a grant for the English Conversation Class
  • work to increase our hosting of social events for local community
  • look at feasability of grant for a job club

building maintenance to prevent deterioration

  • organise gardening and cleaning days